Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for left ear sensorineural hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a peripheral vestibular disorder and bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosed peripheral vestibular disorder, and his reported symptoms were attributed to other causes.

The Veteran's enlarged prostate and bilateral hearing loss were not found to be service-connected. The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 0% prior to March 13, 2014, and increased to 10% thereafter.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus can be adjudicated. The Veteran's scheduled VA examination was not conducted due to his failure to report, but the RO will attempt to schedule a new examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, right and left knee disorders, a ganglion cyst of the left wrist, a right wrist disorder, and migraine headaches. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA regulations.,The Veteran has submitted new evidence that relates to his claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension, which have been reopened. However, there is no legal basis to assign a schedular rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss meets the criteria for a noncompensable disability rating based on VA audiometric examination results from March 2011.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has not been shown to warrant a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to his history of in-service combat noise exposure, and therefore grants service connection for both conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure likely caused his current condition. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not addressed as it was not adjudicated by the RO.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an audiological examination. The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma claim will also be reviewed by a clinician to determine if it is related to service, specifically Agent Orange exposure.

The Board finds the evidence does not establish a current disability for VA purposes, and thus denies the claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss.

Service connection for arthritis in the hands is not granted as there is no evidence of such condition during service or within one year thereafter.,The claim to reopen the matter of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as new and material evidence has not been received that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim (no noise exposure in service).,The claim to reopen the matter of service connection for a back disability is denied as new and material evidence has not been received that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim (no current chronic back disability shown).,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the matter of service connection for a left ankle disability. The Veteran now has a diagnosed left ankle osteoarthritis.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and thus no longer has jurisdiction over the claim for a compensable evaluation for the service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently assigned a non-compensable evaluation. The VA examiner determined the Veteran’s puretone thresholds, and based on these results, no compensable rating can be granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to active duty service. The issues of bilateral hearing loss, mechanical low back pain, and residual scar of an excised ganglion cyst of the left wrist are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his service-connected tinnitus has been assigned the maximum schedular evaluation available.

The VA determined that the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral hearing loss is not causally related to his military service, as there was no evidence of permanent hearing loss at separation and the June 1964 audiogram showed some degree of hearing loss. The Board finds the VA's decision on this issue.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent prior to June 2, 2014 and increased to 30 percent thereafter. The Board found no evidence that the Veteran warranted a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss.